HBO won’t sell access to its online streaming service HBO Go directly to consumers. (ESPN, another often-cited reason for why people stick with cable, has the same policy.) To get a login, you must go to a cable TV company, which usually tries to upsell you on a pricey package that includes lots of channels you don’t want.

Frustrated, some would-be customers just cut cable and “borrow” an HBO Go login from a friend. (An HBO spokesman says those logins are “limited to those residing in the home.”)

But in recent months, many big cable companies have wised up that they might lose a slowly growing niche of cable-cutting customers. Several of them now will sell a package that include just Internet, HBO (and HBO Go) and the most basic of TV. You’re not exactly without cable TV, but you’re with much, much less of it.

It’s like ordering off the secret menu at In-and-Out Burger — you have to know what to ask for:

I called up some of the biggest cable companies and representatives from four talked about the packages they offer. This worked for my family with Comcast. We called their hotline and said we wanted to “downgrade” service. After we said the magic words “Internet Plus,” we were able to switch from a triple-play package costing $212 per month to “Internet plus” with broadband, about 10 cable channels and HBO (with HBO Go) for about $75 per month. Keep in mind, this eliminates landline phone service through the cable company.

A warning anytime you try to downgrade or cut off service: Cable companies sometimes can unfortunately make things confusing, or even confrontational, with their customers.

They could at any time change the names of these special options, or ditch them completely. Either move would be the wrong choice. If they do, or hassle you to keep higher-paying services, just keep saying: “I want Internet and HBO.”